Thailand Travel Guide Tour

Doi Chiang Dao

The guardian spirits of Chiang

CHIANG MAI PROVINCE.Chiang Dao was in the medialimelight during 2003, when the government came up witha plan to builzd a cable car to the peak to boost tourism. The proposalmet with unprecedented and widespread protest from both locals andenvironmental activists. Fortunately, the plan was not carried out.Doi Chiang Dao (under the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary’s care) isthe third highest peak, and the only place where a sub-alpineecosystem can be found in Thailand. Its height is 2,225 m abovesea level, making a dramatic rise on the horizon when viewed onentering the district by Highway 107. The horseshoe-shapedmountain range of which it forms a part is home to more than
340 species of wildlife, of which some 206 are birds, including thenear-extinct Hume’s Pheasant (Symaticus humiae, found onlyhere and in Pai). It is also the only home in the world to the newlydiscovered orchid Sirindhornia pulchella, as well as approximately
110 other orchid species.

Doi Chiang Dao also holds spiritual significance for the peopleof Chiang Mai. The mountain is believed to be the abode of ChaoLuang Kham Daeng, the spirit revered by all spirits and ghosts. Thereare two routes to get to the peak of Doi Luang Chiang Dao – the PangWua trail and the Den Ya Khat trail.

The Mountain of the GodsThe starting points of the two trailsare about 30 minutes and 1 hour away from the headquarters, respectively. There are camping sites on both trails, but the second one is longer, steeper, and thus more adventurous. The two trails converge mid-hill, and four more hours of walking will lead to Mae Salung, the last camping site before the top. From the Mae Salung camping site, a final 45-minute climb (225 m of rocky, limestone trail) is required to get to the windy top, where there is no water source but plenty of wildflowers.

Trekkers normally spend two nights before following the downwardtrail back to the headquarters, and must provide their own tents, food,and water for the whole trip.

It must be emphasised that Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary is devotedstrictly to conservation; tourism is second on the agenda. That iswhy the Sanctuary is open for trekking only from 1st Novemberto 31st March, and is suitable only for highly-devoted natureenthusiasts. For others still wanting to get a glimpse of its glory, thereis a 2-km nature trail, at the foot of the mountain, accessible all yearround. No guide is needed, but during the rainy season, the path isoften concealed by tall grass.